Coed adolescent soccer players in a competitive learning milieu: An ethnographic assessment of gender attitudes, perceptions and sport -specific component testing

The history of association soccer dates back to the 1800's, and all indications are that prospects for the female athlete was scarce in all sports. The researcher has arranged an environment where young females can train with males in a soccer setting that has all the necessary elements for the athletes to learn, improve and compete with their own gender as well as opposite gender. The female group has been noticeable underachievers in this sport and is not aware of their potential. The research methodology is ethnographic in nature and study could easily be related to a traditional way to learn and develop in this sport. The method stresses the importance of reproducing procedures that were taught to the researcher. The employment of this method was to provide motivation and additional teaching resources to assist and enhance development of the research participant's potential.;The most important finding was that learning had occurred in the training milieu. Learning was accomplished through the males' ability to facilitate the dynamics of attention and discipline required throughout the training sessions that were offered. The soccer specific test results indicated a much more motivated female group and the females' spring season was very successful; the team went undefeated in all competitions. The males in the study began to shed the superior attitude to one of more respect and tolerance of their female counterparts. The female differs emotionally from the male as the interview data illustrated and the co-education environment was both positive and productive, but there are limits to the inclusion of the female gender in the male training sessions. More planning would be necessary to assure that both groups develop. The study not only provided training and testing, but also made the participants more aware of many gender issues and how the research attempted to bridge the gap in sport between the sexes. If adopted, the psychological data could mean major benefits for the player who wants to know exactly what their strengths and weaknesses are; and when actions of strength are required and the capacity to work on weaknesses. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).